Purpose

To present proposals for the approval and adoption of the Green Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The Green Infrastructure SPD reflects and expands upon the open space, green infrastructure, biodiversity and countryside policies in the adopted Crawley Borough Local Plan 2023 to 2040, providing supporting guidance to assist applicants in meeting the Local Plan requirements. This includes the policies in relation to: • The Green Infrastructure Network • Trees • Open Space • Biodiversity (including Biodiversity Net Gain and Urban Greening Factor) • Countryside and High Weald National Landscape On adoption, the SPD will form part of the development plan for Crawley and will be an important consideration in determining planning applications. The SPD will be accompanied by a final Consultation Statement and a Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA) Screening Report. All Local Planning Authorities have been required by the government to adopt any SPDs by 30 June 2026. Therefore, it is proposed that this new SPD is adopted and replaces the current adopted Green Infrastructure SPD (2016).

Decision

Approve the adoption of the Green Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Document as a council planning policy document to be taken into account as a material planning consideration in the determination of relevant planning applications